india ♔ cut the bonds with the moon and let the dogs gather

[sirsolace]

♬ The Moon - Swell Season

WHO || Faye, Andie, Scout, Solace, Riddick, Nessa [closed]
WHAT || The Knights try to find their way into the Temple to see the
WHERE || Khajjiar, India, near the Temple of the Moon
WHEN || Sometime last week, afternoon
HOW || Actionspam

The Knights have spent the last week or so gathering supplies and intelligence in the town close to the mountains where the elven sisters have sequestered themselves inside their temple.   And what they've heard has been disturbing:  tales of the fanaticism of the sisters' followers seems to run contrary to everything Solace has to tell them about the usual clergy of Sehanine Moonbow.  These people are dogmatic to the point of violence, and the temple has been sealed against entrance by anyone at all as the sisters seek to complete their 'ritual', which is meant to seal the Veil from the Shadow World and prevent anymore incursions of Shadowkind, monsters, or objects.  

Finally, the Knights take the long journey up the mountainside to approach for themselves.  The road up is dotted with wagons and tents, and when the temple finally rises up out of the fog above, silver and gleaming, it's clear that even reaching the doors could prove difficult.  The steps are obscured by the massive amount of tents and people moving about.  There are probably hundreds barring the way, camped together so tightly that moving between them seems an invitation to trouble, given the supposed lynchings that have occurred when others dared to try and break in.

Solace halts the group at the edge of the crowd, with one hand held out slightly to the side.  He frowns as he looks over the faces of those gathered, none of whom look exactly friendly... or even hopeful.

Comments

[wildmind]

[ "Divinity gives us the right. And you can't take that from us." Abruptly, she's up again, the knife in her hand, and she moves to grab her sister and yank her roughly towards herself, dark intent in her eyes. Nessa acts rapidly, raising a hand and making a quick motion at the girl's head. For a moment, she freezes in place, eyes glazed over, and Nessa shouts a thought into Andie's brain. ]

Get the knife.

[asap]

[Andie makes a startled noise, straightens, then dashes forward to take that second knife that magically appeared out of nowhere! She's quick with her hands, as with everything else, and she manages to wrest the knife from the girl's hand with no trouble at all (sleight of hand 30 which seems like a success).]

[wildmind]

[ shut up, i rule at keeping track of shit. the knife is gone before she can even blink and when she makes a motion to cut her sister's throat... her hand is empty.

methenith's widen and there's an awkward beat before she lets out her breath, and turns her gaze slowly back towards her sister, looking horrified.

"You..."

aenith releases her and scrambles away, looking defensive.

"We agreed to this. You agreed to this. Don't try to claim any different now! You believe in this just as much as I do!"

nessa's voice breaks through the accusation, eerily calm. ]

No. She believes more than you do. [ aenith shoots her a sharp glance. ] Tell her. Tell her the truth.

[reallywicked]

Damn... [Faye mutters, seeing Andie grab that knife. Even she has to admit that the girl's speed and skillz are impressive. Her attention is grabbed quickly once Nessa starts to speak.]

Uh... sorry, what?

[wildmind]

[ aenith goes pale. "How do you--"



methenith stares at her, vulnerable and bewildered.

"Aenith... what is she talking about?"

nessa fixes the girls with an implacable stare. ] I know what's in your heart. In your thoughts. I know what was planted there.

Tell. Her.

[

aenith's mouth works a few times and then she says, in a trembling voice: "I did have a dream. But it wasn't from Sehanine. It wasn't about any ceremony." tears brim up in her eyes, which she can't raise to meet her sister's wondering gaze. "I had a dream of being free of the vow we took, to live centuries in devotion to nothing but the gods. The vow you talked me into in the first place, and held me to with bonds of guilt for all these years." ]

[asap]

[...wow. Andie frowns at the two of them.] ....there has to be a better escape than death.

[wildmind]

[ nessa speaks quietly, her words solemn and condemning. ]

Aenith never planned to die.

[ a terrible moment of realization strikes methenith.



"You... you wanted to kill me so you could be free?"

aenith stares between them all, desperation in her face as she strains against tears, rocking back and forth.



"You don't understand what it's been like. How impossible it's been to measure up to what she wants from me, what she's capable of!" She looks between them all, as if seeking someone to back her up, to support her. "I'll never be her. I can't live my life this way. I... I can't.. " ]

[reallywicked]

[Faye doesn't even try to hide how disgusted she looks.]

You ever heard of walking away? Or was killing your sister always Plan A?

You won't hear me argue that sometimes people have to get hurt to get what you want, but family is different. They deserve better.

[wildmind]

[ aenith doesn't answer and nessa steps forward, very slowly, her voice low and soothing, almost hypnotic ]

Sometimes the chains we forge for ourselves are stronger than any real ones. It was easier to let your sister die for something she thought was right and good, to lay down her life happily for her cause, than to have the face disappointing her, living with her judgment for the rest of your days."

[ a hard look of realization comes into aenith's eyes and she spits the words.



"You're a witch. That's what you are. A dirty witch."

Nessa seems unperturbed by the accusation, stopping in front of her.

methenith turns tearful eyes to her sister, shaking her head violently.



"I would have never judged you, sister. Your life is your own. I thought you wanted this. I thought... "

nessa holds up a hand. ]

What you thought doesn't matter now. The only way to move beyond this is to let go of all that has festered within and all the mistaken conclusions drawn.

Aenith, you need to leave. And never return.

[asap]

[This...really, really sucks. Andie's expression is conflicted as she watches the sister. Though she enjoys being a knight and is happy with her decision, she's wondered sometimes what her own family would say if she decided to quit. And even though she'd never, ever take it as far as Aenith did, she can sort of understand. She wouldn't want to face her father if she'd decided she wanted a different life either.

But she's pretty sure the guilt of killing someone you love would be way, way worse. She can't imagine resorting to that.

She swallows and glances over at Aenith, then away. She doesn't have anything to add. Sympathy's way not something she can offer, but more condemnation won't help either. So she just looks over at Nessa and says nothing.]

[reallywicked]

[Nessa's tone actually shocks Faye. Not that she minds the take-charge attitude or the fact that the psycho sister is being kicked out...

She cautiously steps up towards Methenith. She's not good at being comforting, but she'll try her best.]

You okay?

[Yes, that was her best.]

[wildmind]

[ methenith looks up at faye, opens her mouth and then closes it, shaking her head slightly.



aenith watches her, looking ready to argue, but nessa keeps a cold hard stare on her, and finally she turns and walks slowly, numbly, towards the doors.



methenith collapses weeping on the altar. ]

[asap]

[Andie still feels a little sick about all this, but her heart goes out to Methenith, and she hurries over to crouch down next to the elf, rubbing her back softly. She still doesn't have anything she can say, but maybe she can provide some comfort, as little as it might be.]

[reallywicked]

[Faye lets out a breath that she didn't know she'd been holding and goes over to Nessa.]

So... Did you know that was going on the whole time? [It's only slightly accusatory, but mostly curious.]

[wildmind]

I suspected: I could feel emotions in her surface thoughts that conflicted with what she professed to be feeling.

I'm not as good with mind reading as Tia is, so it wasn't until the thoughts rose to the top that I knew for certain.

Errrm, hey ya'll. He didn't die, I promise.

[lightblindbadass]

[Annnd in saunters Riddick mere seconds after Aenith stumbles out, glancing back with a raised eyebrow. His attention focuses to the front once more, taking in the weird scene before him of Andie patting some crying girls back, Nessa and Faye talking and staring at the door he just walked through.

So, what'd I miss?

[asap]

[Andie looks up at Finnick, shaking her head quietly.]

Long story. Maybe later?

[reallywicked]

[Since Faye sucks at comforting, she walks over to Riddick and puts an hand on his massive arm.]

Let me fill you in, big guy.

[But in another room. Because crying girl is happening in here.]

[wildmind]

Methenith, these people have gathered outside under false pretenses, and many of them are putting others in danger. Can we count on you to set things straight here?

[ the elven girl looks up from where andie is comforting her, wiping away tears and nods. ]

[asap]

Do you need any help?

[wildmind]

[ methenith seems to consider, sorely tempted, but then shakes her head.

"The people may think you tricked me into renouncing my faith if I appear flanked by you. No, better I should go alone. You have already...for much." it's difficult to say whether she feels any real gratitude for what they've brought to life, however. ]

[asap]

[Andie squeezes her shoulder again and stands up.] I'm sorry. About your sister. It's, uh... [There's really nothing she can say, so she just grimaces.] If you need anything, you can always call us. We're all about helping people. [She doesn't sound as enthusiastic about the notion as she usually does. It was a far too messy mission for her to be happy, even if they seem to have solved it without bloodshed.]

[wildmind]

[ nessa looks over at riddick. ]

I hope your being here means the rest of the team made it through the crowd alright. Either way, I think this is our cue to leave.

[ and we will call that

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 8D Feel free to cash in 'mission accomplished: india" to the exp. bank for xp! ]